Wiper

ABSTRACT

Wiping apparatus for use with a tubular probe for filling containers with liquids comprising a wiper block formed with a bore within which the probe is slidable, the block being formed with a plurality of radially inwardly directed jets opening into the bore which jets are connected to a source of pressurized gas, usually air. The probe is closed at its lower end with an enlargement into which the jets open and preferably also the block is formed with an annular chamber disposed radially outwardly of and in fluid communication with the jets, the chamber being connected to the source of pressurized gas. When the probe is withdrawn from a filled container, air issuing from the jets forces liquid adhering to the outside of the probe into the container, thus wiping the probe clean.

United States Patent [72} Inventor Victor John Page Saltdean, England[21] Appl. No. 847,212 [22] Filed Aug. 4, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24,1971 [73} Assignee Neumo Limited Peacehaven, Sussex, England [32Priority Aug. 7, 1968 [33] Great Britain [31 1 37703/68 [54] WIPER 6Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

52 11.5. C1 141/90, 15/306 R [51] 1nt.C1 B65b3/04 [50] Field of Search..15/306, 306 A, 308, 316, 316 A, 405, 300, 301, 303; 134/64, 122;141/85, 89-91, 115; 222/148; 239/106; 34/107, 155

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 722,738 3/1903 Mendham141/85 1,575,526 3/1926 Bocher 15/306 A UX 2,194,565 3/1940 Moss l 15/3l6 R X 2,750,091 6/1956 Mattimoe et al... 141/279 X 3,270,364 9/1966Steele l5/306 A Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant ExaminerEdward J Earls Altorney-Baldwin, Wight & Brown preferably also the blockis formed with an annular chamber disposed radially outwardly of and influid communication with the jets, the chamber being connected tothesource of pressurized gas. When the probe is withdrawn from a filledcontainer, air issuing from the jets forces liquid adhering to theoutside of the probe into the container, thus wiping the probe clean.

PAT ENTl-IU AUG24 12m mm BY 5% M? 1} WIPER This invention relates toapparatus for filling containers with liquids and in particular to thetype of filling apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the type set out),wherein a filler probe and a container are arranged for relativemovement with respect to each other in order to allow insertion of theprobe before filling the container and withdrawal of the probe afterfilling has been completed.

This invention is concerned with a wiper assembly for removal of surplusliquid remaining on the outer surface of the probe upon extraction froma liquid within a filled container.

it has been found that when filling containers with liquids, for exampleshampoos, which are inclined to froth, it is necessary to insert theprobe, through which liquid is discharged into the container, until itsend is close to the bottom of the container. This provides a speedymethod of filling the container with liquid but a problem remains inthat liquid tends to adhere to the outside surface of the probe onwithdrawal from the liquid in the filled container.

The problem of wiping the probe when withdrawn from the liquid, hascaused considerable concern, especially in instances when liquids suchas virulent poisons or caustic solutions or the like are being handled.

The present invention seeks to provide a wiper to remove, speedily andefficiently, any residual liquid adhering to a probe on extraction ofthe probe from a filled container, and so avoid splashing the areasurrounding the outside of the filled container.

The invention also seeks to provide a wiper with the ability to removecompletely any residual liquid on the end of the filler probe.

According to the present invention there is provided a filling head foruse with a container-filling apparatus of the type set out comprising agenerally upright tubular filling probe, a wiper block formed with abore within which the probe is slidable and with a plurality of inwardlydirected jets opening into said bore and adapted to be connected to asource of gaseous fluid under pressure.

, In a preferred embodiment the jets are disposed radially andperpendicularly to the axis of said bore.

Preferably also the lower end of said bore is enlarged to form apressure chamber and the jets enter said chamber adjacent the upper endthereof.

According to another aspect of the invention. the lower end portion ofthe probe has a cusp-shaped longitudinal cross section.

The invention, will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which the FIGURE is afragmentary view, partly in cross section, of a filler probe and a wiperblock, the probe being shown in position prior to its insertion into acontainer.

Referring to the drawing, a hollow, cylindrical probe 1 is closed at itslower end by an end cap 2 which, as can be seen in the drawing, has acusp-shaped longitudinal cross section. The cap 2 is mounted on the endof a rod 20 extending axially up through the probe and thus by loweringand raising the rod and cap 2 with respect to the probe its lower endcan be opened and closed.

In use the probe is inserted into a container C until. the end cap 2nears the bottom of the container. The lower end of the probe is thenopened by lowering the end cap 2 and liquid thus flows down the insideof the probe and so into the container.

The probe 1 is slidably mounted, with a loose fit in abore 3 of a wiperblock 4. The lower end of the bore 3 is of enlarged diameter to define apressure chamber 5. A plurality of horizontally radially disposed. airinjection jets 6 open through a sidewall of the pressure chamber 5adjacent its upper end and communicate with an annular chamber 7 in theblock 4. An air inlet duct 9 extends from the annular chamber to theoutside of the block.

The combined assembly functions in the following manner. The air inletduct 9 is connected to any suitable external source of air pressure anda certain uniform pressure'of air builds up within the annular chamber 7so that air isforced through the small-bore air injection jets 6, intothe pressure chamber 5. I

The filler probe 1, having considerable freedom of movement within thebore 3, allows a small volume of air to escape up the bore 3 from thepressure chamber 5. Since only a small volume of air can escape upthrough the bore 3, it follows that there is resistance to flow in thebore and consequently a back pressure in the chamber 5 that issufficient to inhibit the entry of liquid wetting the outside of probe 1into the interior of pressure chamber 5. Therefore, as the probe 1 israised through the wiper block 4,,after completion of the filling of theliquid container, any liquid adhering to the probe 1 is wiped down theprobe onto the end cap 2.

Since the end cap 2 is cusp-shaped the airstream follows the concaveform and wipes the liquid to and off the extreme tip of the cap 2. Theairstream is thus able to remove the last remaining drops of liquid backinto the container.

It can be seen from the foregoing that surplus liquid is removedspeedily and efficiently from the filler probe as it is extracted fromthe liquid in the container.

At the same time, since the wiping medium is air, neither solvents,acids, alkalines, abrasives or the like, can have any deleteriouseffects on the wiper, neither can additional freedom of movement of thetiller tube within the bore, caused through wear by abrasion or anyother action, affect the ability of the system to remove liquid from theprobe.

It will be realized however that although the invention has beenspecifically described with reference to air as the gaseous medium,clearly other gases such as nitrogenor helium can be used where an inertnonoxidizing medium is required.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for filling containers with liquids comprising atubular filling probe arranged for relative axial movement with respectto a container to be filled so as to allow its insertion into thecontainer for delivering fluid into the container and to allow itswithdrawal from the container. after delivery of fluid has beencompleted, the improvement comprising a wiper block formed with aborethe end of which to be positioned adjacent the container is enlarged toprovide a pressure chamber, said probe being slidable within said boreand through said pressure chamber, said block being formed with aplurality of inwardly directed jets opening into said pressure chamber,and means adapted to connect said jets to a source of gaseous fluidunder pressure, whereby gaseous fluid from said jets and said pressurechamber forces liquid on the outside of said probe downwardly along saidprobe and off the delivery end thereof and into said container upon thewithdrawal of the probe therefrom through said wiper block.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said boreextends above said pressure chamber and provides a loose-fit mountingfor said probe to thereby to allow a small volume of said gaseous fluidto escape upwardly through said bore, the gaseous fluid pressure in saidpressure chamber being sufficient to inhibit-the entry of liquid wettingthe outside of said probe into said pressure chamber.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said jets extendradially and perpendicularly to the axis of said bore.

4. The improvement according to claim 3 comprising an annular chamberdisposed radially outwardly of said jets and in fluid eomrnunicationtherewith, and an inlet duct extending betweensaid annular chamberand anoutside surface of the block to allow connection with said source ofgaseous fluid.

5. The improvement'accordingto claim 1 wherein the probe is formed witha cap on: its lower end, said cap having a cuspshaped'profile.

6. ln-an apparatus for filling containers with liquids the improvementcomprising a wiper block formed with a bore, a probe slidable withinsaid boreand being formed on its lower end with a cap having acusp-shaped profile with an extreme adapted to connectsaid duct to asource of gaseous fluid under pressure, whereby upon the withdrawal ofthe probe from a container through said wiper block, gaseous fluid underpressure from said jets and said pressure chamber forces liquid adheringto the outside of said probe downwardly off said cap extreme tip andinto said container.

1. In an apparatus for filling containers with liquids comprising atubular filling probe arranged for relative axial movement with respectto a container to be filled so as to allow its insertion into thecontainer for delivering fluid into the container and to allow itswithdrawal from the container after delivery of fluid has beencompleted, the improvement comprising a wiper block formed with a borethe end of which to be positioned adjacent the container is enlarged toprovide a pressure chamber, said probe being slidable within said boreand through said pressure chamber, said block being formed with aplurality of inwardly directed jets opening into said pressure chamber,and means adapted to connect said jets to a sOurce of gaseous fluidunder pressure, whereby gaseous fluid from said jets and said pressurechamber forces liquid on the outside of said probe downwardly along saidprobe and off the delivery end thereof and into said container upon thewithdrawal of the probe therefrom through said wiper block.
 2. Theimprovement according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said bore extendsabove said pressure chamber and provides a loose-fit mounting for saidprobe to thereby to allow a small volume of said gaseous fluid to escapeupwardly through said bore, the gaseous fluid pressure in said pressurechamber being sufficient to inhibit the entry of liquid wetting theoutside of said probe into said pressure chamber.
 3. The improvementaccording to claim 1 wherein said jets extend radially andperpendicularly to the axis of said bore.
 4. The improvement accordingto claim 3 comprising an annular chamber disposed radially outwardly ofsaid jets and in fluid communication therewith, and an inlet ductextending between said annular chamber and an outside surface of theblock to allow connection with said source of gaseous fluid.
 5. Theimprovement according to claim 1 wherein the probe is formed with a capon its lower end, said cap having a cusp-shaped profile.
 6. In anapparatus for filling containers with liquids the improvement comprisinga wiper block formed with a bore, a probe slidable within said bore andbeing formed on its lower end with a cap having a cusp-shaped profilewith an extreme tip at its lower end, said block being formed with aplurality of radially inwardly directed jets disposed in a planeperpendicular to the axis of said bore, said bore being enlarged at thelower end thereof to form a pressure chamber and said jets opening intosaid chamber adjacent its upper end, an annular chamber disposedradially outwardly of said jets and in fluid communication therewith, aduct connecting said annular chamber with an outside surface of theblock and means adapted to connect said duct to a source of gaseousfluid under pressure, whereby upon the withdrawal of the probe from acontainer through said wiper block, gaseous fluid under pressure fromsaid jets and said pressure chamber forces liquid adhering to theoutside of said probe downwardly off said cap extreme tip and into saidcontainer.